Detrusor pressure monitoring by electrical bioimpedance in the neurogenic bladder of adult patients

Purpose Detrusor pressure–volume relationship evaluation by urodynamics provides useful clinical information; however, it is invasive, and requires specific installations. An alternative technique proposed by our research group is the electrical bioimpedance (BI) which is an easily performed and non-invasive method. In this work, we assess the relationship between BI and detrusor bladder pressure in adults with neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction. Methods A prospective observational study was conducted. 20 patients (11 females and 9 male) previously diagnosed with neurogenic bladder were included. All participants underwent simultaneously a urodynamic evaluation (UDS) and BI determination, and both examination signals were recorded and subjected to Shapiro–Wilks statistical test. A correlational statistical test was used to compare the pressure parameters (detrusor, vesical and abdominal) with their respective BI determinations. Subsequently, a linear regression test was performed to evaluate the concordance between BI and their respective pressure values. Results From the 20 correlations, between detrusor bladder pressure (PDET) and abdominal bioimpedance determinations (ZABD), obtained for all participants, 16 evidenced significant results over 90% ( p < 0.05). Conclusions A significantly high correlation between abdominal bioimpedance determinations and the detrusor bladder pressures was evidenced. These results should be confirmed in a larger group of participants.